The last defeat of the “barefoot genius”.
Edson Arantes do Nasimento, or known to many simply as Pele, the king of football, has passed away. He lost to cancer in the 83rd year of his life.
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Pele was born into a poor family on October 23, 1949 in Tres Corasoynes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is said to be named after the famous inventor Thomas Edison. His father was a former footballer who played for the city’s eponymous club and later for the more famous Atlético Mineiro. But his career was cut short due to injury. It is he who introduces little Edson to the ball. When the future football king was four years old, his family moved to the larger city of Bauru (state of São Paulo).
The version about the name “Pele” is that he called the goalkeeper of the “Vasco da Gama” club “Pele” by mistake, and the Thais gave him this nickname mockingly. The person who first made this joke did not even think that the day will come when there will be few people in the world who have not heard the name Pele. It is said that Edson did not like this name and had a fight with a classmate who called him that. But child the rules of the world are such that the sharper you react to any temptation, the more firmly it will stick to you.
Edson child working from an early age, he tries to contribute to the family budget. He plays football in his spare time. He had no money to buy a ball or sports shoes. He played barefoot, instead of a ball, with different things, for example, inside newspaper used a stuffed sock.
After some time child are invited to their teams. The youth team of the local team “Bauru Atlético” became the state champion twice thanks to Pele. The coach of the team, Valdemar de Brito, took him to the “Santos” club in 1956 and recommended him to the team. The coach of the team is also impressed by Pele’s talent and a contract is signed with the player who is not yet 16 years old.
Pele plays his first official game on September 7, against the club “Corinthians de Santo Andre”. In that game, “Santos” wins with a score of 7:1. Pele scores one of the goals. Despite his successful start, he is only strengthened in the main team of the team from the next season. He scored 17 goals during the season, becoming the top scorer of the Paulista league (São Paulo state championship). In the same year, Pele was invited to the Brazilian national team and began his international career.
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Pele’s recognition took place at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. He did not start the first two games here. He played only in the last match in the group against the USSR. The Brazilians, who won with the score of 2:0, entered the playoffs from the first place in the group. Already in the ¼ final, Pele scored his first goal. This goal gave Brazil the opportunity to beat Wales – 1:0.
Opponent in the semi-finals France was This game, which the South Americans won with a score of 5:2, was Pele’s benefit. He scored three goals in the second half to become the youngest player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup, as well as the third and so far the last Brazilian after Leonidas da Silva and Ademir. Over the past 64 years, no other Brazilian has been able to achieve this.
In the final, the rival host was Sweden. Brazil won this game with a score of 5:2. Pele doubled this time. Thus, Brazil became the world champion for the first time in its history. Pele won this title at the age of 17 years and 249 days, becoming the youngest world champion, and this record has not been renewed until now.
At that time, the best player of the championship was not determined. A later survey among journalistsflour according to the results, Pele was named the second best player after compatriot Didi.
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At the 1962 World Cup held in Chile, Brazil defended its title and became champions for the second time. But Pele’s contribution to this achievement was a goal and an assist in the first game against Mexico. Injured in the second game against Czechoslovakia, he did not participate in the tournament. Instead, Garrinca, at the peak of his career, led his country to victory.
In 1966, Brazil failed at the VIII World Championship held in England. One of the reasons for this was the rough play of the opponents against Pele. In the first game, Bulgaria was defeated due to the goals scored by Pele and Garrinca. This goal made Pele the first player to score in three championships.
Pele was injured as a result of the rough play of the Bulgarians and had to miss the game against Hungary. As a result, the Hungarians won 3:1. The last game in the group was against the powerful Portugal. Pele, who had not fully recovered from his injury, entered the game and was injured at the start of the match due to a rough play by Joao Morais. According to the unequivocal opinion, judge he should have sent the Portuguese defender off the pitch, but he didn’t. As a substitution was not allowed at that time, Pele remained on the pitch and hobbled until the end of the game.
The match ended in favor of the Pyrenees led by Eusebio – 3:1. Brazil, who finished third in the group, went home early. Fed up with the foul play against him, Pele said he would not participate in the World Cup again, but changed his mind three years later
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Instead, the next championship in Mexico in 1970 resulted in Brazil’s triumph, their third championship and the Jules Rime trophy forever. That team is the best in the history of Brazil national team, and according to some, in general, the best in all countries in the history of football national team is considered.
South Americans defeated Czechoslovakia in the first game – 4:1. One of the goals was scored by Pele. The next two games were more difficult. England were defeated by Jairzinho’s only goal. In this game, Pele’s header was saved by the British goalkeeper Gordon Banks with an incredible reaction. That episode is considered one of the greatest saves in football history.
In the third game, Romanians responded to Pele’s double and Jairzinho’s goal with two goals – 3:2. In the first round of the playoffs, the opponent was the Peruvian team. Pele did not stand out in Brazil’s 4-2 win, but Tostao scored the third goal after his pass.
In the semi-finals, the opponent was from South America – Uruguay. This is from 1950 From the tragedy of Maracanaso then it was the first meeting of the teams in the world championships. In this game, where Brazil won 3:1, Pele did not stand out again, he only made an assist. But there was an episode at the end of the game that is included in almost all videos made about Pele.
After Tostao’s wing pass, both Pele and Uruguay goalkeeper Mazurkevic ran towards the ball. Pele caught up faster, but let go without touching, the ball went past the bewildered goalkeeper. The Brazilian caught up to the ball and hit the goal, but his shot was not accurate.
After the semi-finals, it became clear that this championship was the last for the Jules Rome trophy. So, both teams that met in the finals – both Brazil and Italy – have already won the championship twice, and if they win for the third time, according to the rules, they would have the cup forever.
Pele opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a header. He thus became the second player after compatriot Vava to score in two finals. After Italian Boninsenya equalized the score, the first half ended 1:1. In the second half, Jerson put the Brazilians ahead with a shot from outside the penalty area. After that, Pele made two assists. In the 71st minute, after his header, Jairzinho, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, increased the score. In the 86th minute, Carlos Alberto Torres, who quickly entered the penalty area after Pele’s ideal pass, put the final point in the game – 4:1.
Thus, Brazil won its third title. And Pele became a three-time world champion, a record that no one has ever repeated. He was also chosen as the best player of the championship.
Pele played his last game for the Brazilian national team on July 18, 1971 against Yugoslavia. Pele played only in the first half of the game, which was watched by more than 138 thousand spectators and ended with a score of 2:2. The record of Pele, who scored 77 goals in 92 games for the Brazilian national team, has not been renewed until now. The results of these games are as follows: 67 wins, 14 draws and 11 losses. Brazil has never lost a game with both Pele and Garrincha on the field.
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Pele spent almost all of his club career in Santos. for 18 years he 10 He became the champion of the state of Sao Paulo 6 times, the champion of Brazil 6 times, and the owner of the Brazilian cup 5 times. Twice won the Libertadores Cup, held between the champions of South American countries, and twice the Intercontinental Cup.
Pele, who played in the “New York Cosmos” club in 1975-1977, played his farewell match on October 1, 1977. In the match between “Cosmos” and “Santos” clubs, Pele spent the first half in the team of the American club and the second half in the team of the Brazilian club. In this match, he scored his last goal, and this goal went through the door of “Santos”, where he played for 18 years. “Cosmos” won 2:1.
It is claimed that Pele played 1363 games and scored 1281 goals during his career. He scored three goals in 92 games, four goals in 30 games and five goals in at least 6 games. In the game held in 1964, he put eight balls through the goal of “Botafogo”.
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Edson married three times. He has three children with his first wife, Rosemery dos Shays Sholby. Assyria Lemos has twin children from her second marriage to Seishas. His third choice was in 2016 – with 50-year-old Marcia Sibeli Aoki of Japanese origin.
In September 2021, Pele underwent surgery for a colon tumor. Although family members said “everything was fine,” it soon became clear that he needed chemotherapy. In January 2022, Pele, who was hospitalized, was also diagnosed with heart failure and impaired consciousness. In December, a respiratory infection was also discovered in the famous football player. It was already known that his condition was critical. For this reason, after the 1/8 final game of the World Cup held in Qatar, the players of the Brazilian national team opened a poster with his picture. In Qatar, where the championship was held, the facades of buildings were decorated with his pictures, and wishes for health were expressed.
On December 29, the goal king closed his eyes forever…
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